Music Trade Review

Issue: 1921 Vol. 73 N. 14

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
RE™
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer. C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
J. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York; Secretary, Edward Lyman Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York;
Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
RAY BILL, B. B. WILSON, BRAID WHITE, Associate Editors
WILSON D. BUSH, Managing Editor
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
•••>•'-> •" • L. E. BOWERS, Circulation Manager
Executive and Reportorlal Staff
EDWARD VAM HARLINGEN, V. D. WALSH, E. B. MUNCH, LEE ROBINSON, C. R. TIGHK,
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, SCOTT KINGWILL, THOS. W. BKESNAHAN, A. J. NICKLIN.
WESTERN DIVISION:
BOSTON OFFICE:
Republic Bldg., 209 So. State St., Chicago.
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
^tf Telephone. Wabash S242-S243.
Telephone, Main 69S0.
r
l
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN THE LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered as second-class matter September 10, 1892, at the post office at New York, N. Y.,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
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ADVERTISEMENTS, $6.00 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $150.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
A allU
anil
-l Plan
laHU
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
IW>nartniPnfc regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
C
U C | f a l UHxlllS are dealt with, will be found in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
The question is not the number of people who reside in a section,
but rather what proportion of that number, by education, desire
and financial ability, can qualify as prospects for a given article of
known value.
FIGHTING THE CANCELATION EVIL
T
H E efforts of the members of the Musical Supply Association
through a special committee to draft up some form of contract
that will prevent the unwarranted and improper cancellation of
orders again call attention to a condition that has existed since last
year and which it is said by a number of supply men appears to be
growing worse instead of improving.
The music trade is not the only line of industry that has suffered
through the fact that retailers and manufacturers have both tried to
pass the burden of the business slump on to their supply sources
through the simple expedient of canceling orders that had originally
been placed and likewise accepted in good faith. There are times, of
course, when there is offered a legitimate excuse for canceling orders.
Such occasions are not frequent enough to warrant any general pro-
gram of cancelation such as prevails in some divisions of this and
other trades.
It is about time that business men learned that the only way to
hold and develop trade is for each individual to do his share—to
bear a fair proportion of the stock and financial burdens, as well as
put forth additional selling effort. If what are termed orders simply
represent options, as some buyers seem to think, then there is little
excuse of talking of possible reductions in price or a quick return to
normal. The supply men in their fight on cancelations should have
the support of those manufacturers who place their orders in good
faith and should enjoy whatever benefits accrue from doing business
in a straightforward manner.
STEADY ADVANCE OF THE SMALL GRAND
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal
Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma...•.Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal—Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS B982—6983 MADISON 8Q.
Connecting all Departments
Cable Address: "Elblll, New York"
Vol. LXX1II
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 1, 1921
No. 14
THE BUYING POWER OF THE PUBLIC
HE average music merchant who is in business to stay and wants
to know what his prospects are for developing his trade in a given
territory makes it a point to-day to analyze, so far as is possible, the
buying power of the public in his section. It was long ago realized
that the buying power of a community cannot in any sense be based
upon population, but must be carefully figured out from the character
of the population.
We find manufacturers who, after careful investigation, fix mini-
mum limits on the sales possibilities of their products based upon
national figures. In other words, an article may be expected to sell
at the rate of 100 to 1,000 of population, another 10 to 1,000, and at
least one prominent piano manufacturer has fixed as a minimum of
sales possibilities for his instruments one to every fifteen thousand
of population each year.
In the fixing of these minimum sales possibilities it is held that,
even in the worst territories where a minimum of buying power
exists, these figures must be met, and that as the caliber of the inhabi-
tants in various sections improves the percentage of sales in propor-
tion to population increases automatically.
Many grave mistakes are made in this and other industries
through basing-buying power upon the size of population rather than
upon the financial ability and responsibility of the majority of that
population. The story is told of a German of the old school who
visited China with a line of cheap spectacles selling at twenty-five
cents per pair, or the equivalent. Being of a systematic turn of mind
he-investigated and found that China had a population of 400,000,-
000. He finally determined that at least 100,000,000 of .these were
adults or at least were old enough to need and buy his spectacles. He
figured in his mind that with a fifteen-cent profit on each pair of
specs he had before him a fortune of $15,000,000, and was dis-
appointed when his plan did not work out, because, with a wage of
ten cents a day, the Chinaman's buying power was limited.
It might be well for members of the music industry in determin-
ing the buying power of the country at large, or a single section
thereof, to take a lesson from this experience of our German friend.
T
OCTOBER 1, 1921
T
H E R E is every indication that the small grand piano is not only
continuing to hold the position in the trade that it has won for
itself during the past few years, but promises to make still further
advances in the future. Practical evidence that this fact is impressed
on the minds of the manufacturers is found in the attention given
to the manufacture and improvement of the small grand and the
increase in the number of factories that are devoted exclusively or
almost exclusively to that type of instrument.
One well-informed member of the trade has expressed the
opinion that the time is coming when the small grand, owing to its
constant improvement in the matter of tonal quality, will supersede
the upright piano just as the upright several decades ago superseded
the square. Meanwhile it is very probable that the upright piano
will stay with us indefinitely despite prophecies, but it is also quite
evident that if the small grand continues to be exploited as strongly
as it is at present, and merits the claims made for it, it will come
to be the dominating instrument among pianos.
Another factor that is calculated to emphasize the growing impor-
tance of the small grand is the announcement last week by the
Aeolian company of a new and broader policy in the matter of pro-
viding retail distribution for the Weber and Steck grands, a policy
brought about, it is admitted, as a-result of the demand for that type
of instrument that has actually made itself evident.
PROGRESS IN THE TAX FIGHT
A
NOTHER bright spot in the Federal tax fight is found in the
announcement by the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce
last week that, through the efforts of that body and the organizations
and individuals affiliated with it, the Senate Finance Committee had
been moved to reinsert in the bill the so-called wholesale and retail
ruling whereby a manufacturer who sells at retail is taxed on his
retail sales on the basis of the wholesale price.
This ruling has long been a sore point with Internal Revenue
Department officials, who have seen in the wiping out thereof an
opportunity to secure from the music industry a very substantial
increase in revenue. Inasmuch as the War Excise Tax has been, and
is, a tax based on the manufacturer's selling price it is only logical
to assume that it should be paid only upon the wholesale price of the
instrument whether it is sold through the manufacturer's own retail
store or through an outside dealer. Unfortunately in the interpreta-
tion of the excise and other laws, the "experts" appear to work
solely with a view to getting all the traffic will bear.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
OCTOBER 1, 1921
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
STATE FAIRS AS MEDIUMS FOR SECURING BUSINESS
TRADE ACTIVITIES IN SAN DIEGO
Music Dealers Will Find Some Valuable Suggestions in the Following Account of the Ex-
hibit Arranged by the Schmidt Music Co. at the Mississippi Valley Fair and Exposition
New Music Department in Store of Holzwas-
ser's, Inc.—Buys Interest in Gray-Maw Co.
and since there were visitors from all parts of
DAVKNI\JRT, IA., September 26.—Those music
dialers who contemplate having exhibits at the country we are forwarding those outside of
various State and county fairs this Fall might our territory to the dealers in their respective
learn a valuable lesson from the experience of cities.
"If the card shows the party has only a phono-
the Schmidt Music Co., of this city, in connec-
tion with the display of that company at the graph he is a prospect for phonograph records
Mississippi Valley Fair and Exposition held re- and a player or piano. If they have a player
they can be sold rolls, and possibly a phono-
cently.
The accompanying photograph gives some graph. If they have a straight piano it is possi-
idea of the attractive character of the display, ble to exchange it for a player.
"Trusting the enclosed card of information
the booth being decorated in Autumn colors.
It was what was done in the booth and in con- • might be of some assistance to you in these try-
"
nection with the display, however, that aroused ing times, and with best wishes, we are
This transferring of valuable sales informa-
the most interest.
The fair and exposition continued for five tion to a dealer in another territory is a move
days and the Schmidt Music Co. provided a that is deserving of consideration, and is the
regular program with some feature scheduled for sort of co-operation that serves to cement the
trade in closer bonds. Letters from dealers
who have received the cards were frank in ap-
preciation of the Schmidt Co.'s courtesy.
SAN DIEGO, CAL., September 23.—An elaborate
music department has been opened on the
eighth floor of the store of Holzwasser's, Inc.,
Fifth street and Broadway, with R. D. Sumner,
formerly of Los Angeles, as manager. Pianos,
player-pianos, talking machines, together with
rolls and records, are being handled, and it is
probable that sheet music and musical merchan-
dise will be installed later.
Crosby Hopps, who has been manager of the
local store of the Wiley B. Allen Co. for the
past few months, has severed that connection
and has purchased an interest in the Gray-Maw
Music Co., Inc., of this city. He has been suc-
ceeded at the Wiley B. Allen store by J. H.
Cooley, for many years connected with the
Knight-Campbell Music Co., of Denver, and
more recently with Sherman, Clay & Co.
The San Piego Music Co., composed of S.
B. Frank and D. Horowitz, has opened a new
store at 624 Fifth street, this city.
SUPPORT LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS
Music Industries' Association of Dallas, Tex.,
Among Organizations Supporting Bond Issue
for General Street Improvement
Schmidt Exhibit at State Fair
practically every hour of the day. For the en-
tertainment of the visitors there was an orches-
tra, a youthful drummer soloist who wielded his'
sticks to the accompaniment of the Ampico, a
tramp who amused visitors by playing on a saw,
a one-string fiddle and other crude instruments,
and vocalists and violinists of ability whose ac-
companiments were played by the Ampico. To
increase interest, a drawing was held on the final
day with an Aeolian-Vocalion phonograph as
prize.
At the booth were provided information cards,
a sample of which is reproduced herewith. The
cards were filled out by over 2,000 people, many
of whom did not hesitate to give additional in-
The Dallas (Tex.) Music Industries' Associa-
tion joined with thirty or forty other local or-
ganizations in supporting the city bond issue for
street improvement, the argument being pre-
sented that the improvement in the streets would
prove of direct benefit to the social and com-
mercial interests of the city. The support of
the organizations was brought before the public
through the publication of several large co-
operative advertisements.
NEW QUARTERS IN TRENTON, N. J.
Winkler Piano Co. to Move to New Building
at 241 East Front Street, That City
TRENTON, N. J., September 26.—The Winkler
Piano Co., located for more than twenty years at
219 East State street, will shortly remove to its
new building, at 241 East Front street. Follow-
ing the expiration of its lease the company de-
cided to build its own establishment and add
more room. The new structure is twenty-five by
ten feet, three stories and basement. The
Winkler Co. is made up of father and son and
daughter. The concern has a plant at Trenton
and handles nothing but high-grade pianos.
TINCHER WITH STERCHI BROS.
KNOXVILLE, TENN., September 26.—J. E. Tincher,
formerly connected with Edison distributing
houses in Minneapolis, Kansas City and New
Orleans, and associated with the music business
for the past twenty-five years, has been placed
in charge of the music department at the Sterchi
Bros, store here. This concern carries one of
the most complete lines of musical instruments
and supplies in the South,
NEW CHASE-HACKLEY C0i BOOKLET
Volume Ten of Great Pianists Series Just Issued
by that Company
The tenth volume of the series of booklets on
great pianists, issued by the Chase-Hackley Co.,
Muskegon, Mich., has just made its appearance,
this latest volume being devoted to a brief
biography of Eugene Francis Charles D'Albert,
f • A R D O F
I N F O R M A T I O N
who is introduced as "A Little Giant." The
story is an interesting one, as have been all of
PHILIP PRAVDER OPENS STORE
those in the series, and offers some information
NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y., September 26.—The new that should be of distinct value to pianists who
music house of Philip Pravder, Inc., 503 Main want to know of those who have gained reputa-
street, this city, was formally opened to the tions for their mastery of the instrument.
public last week. A concert in which Milton
layer Q
Ore«n f j
Miscellaneous Phonograph f j
Suskind, distinguished pianist; Miss Geraldine
ALEXANDER LANE IN CANADA
• Vocalion [J
Marwick, soprano, and C. Lynn Seiler, a noted
Victroli Q
Columbia f j
musical authority, participated was the feature President of Mansfield Piano Co. and Mrs. Lane
Kdison Q
Sonora •
of the evening. Philip Pravder and Harry
on Motor Trip—Heinzman in the West
The Card That Brought the Results
formation, such as "No, we haven't a piano, but Janofsky, the proprietors, acted as hosts.
Alexander Lane, president of the Mansfield
wish we had," or "We are going to have a grand
Piano Co., 135th street and Willow avenue, New
piano for Christmas," or "We are thinking of
STEINWAY GRANDS AT FESTIVAL
York, and Mrs. Lane are enjoying a motor trip
changing our piano for a player," etc. These
OAKLAND, CAL., September 26.—The local branch
through Canada.
comments were immediately noted on the pros-
of Sherman, Clay & Co., in line with its policy
pect cards for the guidance of salesmen.
Otto M. Heinzman, vice-president of the com-
Although the chief results were in the nature of gaining the good will of the public, loaned pany, is at present making an extensive West-
of prospects, the actual sales made as a result three Steinway grand pianos for the Berkeley ern trip and has been sending in some good
of the display totaled over $3,000, including the Music Festival, which ended last week. The par- orders from that territory.
sale of a Haines Bros. Ampico grand which was ticipation of 2,000 school children in the songs
was a feature of the event.
on display.
ANDERSON RESIGNS FROM BAY CO.
That the Schmidt Music Co. believes in co-
III., September 26.—Gust. Ad. Anderson
operation was evidenced by the fact that when
IMPROVEMENTS IN BARLOW STORE has CHICAGO,
announced his resignation as traveling rep-
the card showed that the visitor resided outside
TRENTON, N. J., September 26.—The G. A. Bar-
resentative for the H. B. Bay Co., of Bluffton,
of the company's territory the card was mailed
direct to the dealer in the nearest city with a low's Son Co. has made a number of improve- Ind. He has not yet made any announcement
ments to its store here. The two string music regarding his future plans.
letter which read in part as follows:
"The enclosed card reflects information we departments have been combined into one and
Elmer W. Beth, proprietor of a music store at
received at our booth during the Mississippi the company has discontinued the sale of sheet
music. The sheet music department is now Benton Harbor, Mich., has been adjudged bank-
Valley Fair and Exposition
rupt and a receiver has been appointed.
"We inaugurated a plan for getting prospects, used as a piano sales room

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